Chapter 110 One hundred & ten
Izzy slung her bag over her shoulder, her hands still shaking. The office felt suffocating, full of whispers and sideways glances, and the thought of going home…. empty, quiet, and alone… made her chest tighten even more.
She needed air. She needed to get out of there before the weight of everything crushed her completely.
Without thinking too much, she walked out into the cool morning air, the city lights blurring around her as her mind raced. She didn’t know where she was going at first, but her legs seemed to have a mind of their own, leading her down familiar streets until she found herself in front of a small bar she’d passed a hundred times.
The neon sign flickered…. The Rusty Lantern.” She paused, took a shaky breath, and pushed the door open. The warmth and hum of conversation hit her immediately. It smelled like whiskey and wood polish, and somewhere in the background, a slow jazz tune played.
She found an empty stool at the bar, sliding onto it with a sigh that seemed to shake her whole body. Her eyes were glossy, and her fingers nervously tapped against the counter. The bartender, a kind-looking man with graying hair, gave her a gentle nod.
“What’ll it be, sweetheart?” he asked.
“I… just a whiskey. Neat,” she whispered, her voice small. She didn’t want to talk to anyone. She just wanted to drown the knot of frustration, hurt, and disbelief twisting inside her.
As the amber liquid hit her tongue, a slow heat spread through her chest. She leaned her head on her hand, staring at the bar lights reflecting in the glass, thinking of Dominic, Miranda, Sienna, and the whirlwind of chaos that had erupted in her life.
She hated feeling this vulnerable, hated feeling so small, but at least here, for a little while, she could let herself just… be.
Izzy sipped her whiskey slowly, each swallow warming her chest and dulling the sharp edges of her anger and hurt. The bar was noisy but distant, the chatter of strangers fading into the background like it didn’t matter. She felt small and exposed, but strangely alive in the anonymity of the dimly lit room.
Her phone buzzed in her bag. She ignored it at first, not ready to deal with texts or calls. After a few minutes, curiosity won over. It was a message from Maya.
Maya: Izzy… I saw your text. Are you okay?
Izzy’s fingers trembled as she typed back:
Izzy: I’m fucked, Maya… I’m super fucked up. My life is ruined.”
No response yet. She shoved her phone back into her bag and stared at her reflection in the bar mirror. Her hair was messy, eyes red from the tears that slipped down unintentionally, lips slightly dry from the whiskey, she let herself feel the weight of everything… the betrayal, the humiliation, the helplessness.
The bartender came by again, refilling her glass without a word. She raised it slightly in silent thanks, her thoughts a jumble of Dominic, his controlling mother, Sienna, and the sense that nothing in her life had been simple or fair lately.
A group of people laughed loudly at a nearby table, and Izzy felt a pang of envy. They seemed so carefree, so unburdened. She wanted that too…. a life where she could choose love without strings attached, a place where she could trust someone without fear, a life where she didn’t have to fight for every piece of herself.
She took another sip, letting the burn of the whiskey steady her. The bar, with its warm lights and muted jazz, felt like a temporary refuge… a place where the world’s chaos couldn’t touch her for a little while.
Her phone buzzed again. This time, she couldn’t resist checking it. Maya had called, and there was a new message:
Maya: Izzy, I’m on my way. Text me your address don’t you dare do anything stupid.
Izzy’s chest tightened.
She didn’t know if she would cry or laugh first. But just knowing Maya was coming gave her a flicker of comfort, a small anchor in the storm of the day.
She set her glass down and tried to straighten up on the barstool, taking a deep breath. Maybe she wasn’t completely alone. Maybe she didn’t have to be.
The door swung open twenty minutes later, and the sound of Maya’s familiar voice calling her name made Izzy’s lips curve into a small, relieved smile.
Izzy’s heart skipped when she heard Maya’s voice cutting through the bar noise. She turned just in time to see her friend weaving through the crowd, eyes scanning until they locked onto hers.
“Maya…” Izzy breathed, her voice barely more than a whisper.
Izzy watched as Maya made her way to the bar, sliding onto the stool beside her. She didn’t say anything at first, just reached out and took Izzy’s hand, giving it a firm, grounding squeeze.
“You okay?” Maya asked softly, concern etched across her face.
Izzy shook her head, swallowing hard. “No… not really. Everything… It’s just too much.” Her voice cracked. “Dominic… his mom… my job… I just…” She trailed off, unable to put all her frustration and heartbreak into words.
Maya gave a small, tight smile and rested her hand over Izzy’s. “I know, dear. I know.” She paused, letting Izzy breathe. “But it’s going to be fine. It's okay.”
Izzy blinked rapidly, feeling tears prick at the corners of her eyes. She wanted to protest, to say she was fine, but the weight of the day crashed down on her all at once. Instead, she nodded, letting herself lean a little into Maya’s support.
Maya nudged her gently. “Come on. We’ll get you out of this headspace. A little distraction won’t hurt.”
Izzy exhaled, feeling the tension in her shoulders ease just slightly. For the first time in hours, she allowed herself to relax, even if just a little. She didn’t know what the next day would bring, but with Maya by her side, it felt like maybe she could survive it.
She picked up her glass again, giving it a small toast to Maya. “To… surviving,” she murmured.
Maya clinked her glass against Izzy’s with a grin. “To surviving… and kicking ass while we’re at it.”